Cross-basin topic – Innovative nature-inclusive concepts to reconcile offshore renewables with ocean protection
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The EU offshore renewable energy strategy sets ambitious objectives for renewable energy production at sea, namely in relation to the REPowerEU Communication. These objectives are particularly relevant to quickly move away from our dependency on fossil fuels. Deployment of renewable energy solutions needs to be fast and coherent with the EU biodiversity protection and restoration targets. Offshore renewable infrastructures need to be built in such a way that they do not significantly harm the marine environment (e.g.: facilitating the expansion of invasive species) and even, where possible, contribute to restore marine ecosystems. Offshore infrastructures can already have positive impacts on the surrounding biodiversity and act as reefs and refuges for certain species. Nature-inclusive designs might further decrease the negative impacts and enhance desired effects.
Proposals should focus on truly multidisciplinary approaches for the development of nature-inclusive concept design of offshore renewable energy devices.
Detailed Call Description
Proposals should address novel concepts, technologies and solutions beyond the state-of-the-art, taking a life-cycle perspective, thus addressing aspects relating to planning, installation, maintenance and end-of-life issues. Proposals should identify and assess already existing approaches and concepts and highlight the benefits and feasibility of novel solutions.
Nature-inclusive concepts will address the design and choice of materials for the mooring foundations and for the offshore devices, either fixed or floating, noise issues, and laying cables, and show potential positive effects for biodiversity and the marine ecosystems. Multiple-use concepts could also be considered if relevant. Other ocean energy technologies beyond wind energy relying on wave, marine floating photovoltaics and tidal stream, for example, may also be considered.
Recommendations relating to long-term monitoring regimes of the impacts are also expected. Proposals should include biodiversity and ecosystem impact and risk assessments, (also in relation to risks of propagating invasive species).
The projects funded under this topic should:
- build links with other Mission activities and other relevant activities within the Mission lighthouses to maximize synergies, as well as with relevant EU Partnerships like Clean Energy Transition (CET), Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) or the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), with regard to EIT InnoEnergy activities;
- build links with the Mission implementation monitoring system that will be part of the Mission Implementation Support Platform and with the lighthouse support facilities, for reporting in different basins, monitoring and coordination of all relevant implementation activities in the lighthouse area;
- support the Ocean and water knowledge system, in particular by contributing to ocean monitoring, modelling and knowledge creation and data.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
EU Contribution per project: €2.25 million
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Shipping - Marine Transports
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- International Organisations
- Large Enterprises
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Parliamentary Bodies
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Semi-governmental organisations
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia,
P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Contact Person:
Myrto Anastasiadou
Scientific Officer
Email: manastassiadou@research.org.cy
(Publish Date: 21/02/2023-for internal use only)